The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame on Thursday, June 27, 2024, defied the trial judge’s advice in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.
It will be recalled that earlier this month, the High Court Judge presiding over the case, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe urged the AG to step aside from the case to ensure that the judicial process was protected.
But in a move that surprised defence lawyers and courtroom observers today, the Attorney-General personally took over the cross-examination of Richard Jakpa. This unexpected shift saw Dame focusing on the incorporation of Jakpa’s company and the involvement of Big Sea Limited in the purchase and shipment of the ambulances.
During his cross-examination, Mr Dame suggested through his questioning that Mr Jakpa was the primary face behind Jakpa at Business, the company involved in the procurement of the ambulances. Mr. Jakpa admitted to his roles as Director and Board Chairman, acknowledging his direct involvement with Jakpa at Business. He agreed that his company had proposed to procure the ambulances following the government’s announcement of their intention to purchase them.
The A-G delved into the incorporation details of Big Sea Limited, the overseas company that exported the ambulances to Ghana and received payment through Jakpa at Business. While Mr Jakpa claimed ignorance of Big Sea’s incorporation specifics, he emphasized the quality assurance certifications held by both Jakpa at Business and Big Sea, suggesting these certifications ensured compliance with international standards.
Mr. Jakpa explained that Big Sea’s ISO certification is renewed annually to ensure quality compliance, implying that his business partners were incorporated before the contract with the government for the supply of ambulances.
Mr Jakpa voiced his astonishment at what he described as the Attorney-General’s (A-G) ignorance regarding ISO certification.
Following the court proceedings on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Jakpa expressed his frustration to journalists, criticizing the A-G, Godfred Yeboah Dame, for conflating ISO certification with company incorporation.
Jakpa emphasized that he had attempted to clarify to the A-G that ISO certification pertains to international standards for quality management and is not equivalent to a company’s incorporation registration.
“The first aspect that took me aback was a clear ignorance of the Attorney-General on what ISO certification is,” Jakpa remarked.
He explained that the A-G had mistakenly argued that an ISO certification implied that Big Sea was incorporated in 2015, whereas it merely indicated the certification year.
Attorney-General Godfred Dame is expected to resume his cross-examination on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Depending on Mr. Jakpa’s responses, the questioning is anticipated to last approximately three hours.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
